We all remember when tech giants like Apple and Samsung were the only best mobile phone producers providing cutting-edge technology in 2023.
However, with innovative gadgets every year that made their way up every consumer’s wishlist also came prices almost unaffordable for anyone on a tight budget.
The tech market changed dramatically as we entered the third decade of the 21st century. What was once almost a monopoly is now saturated with numerous consumer-friendly devices.
From a child looking for his first mobile phone to a student looking for an upgrade, anyone running on a budget can get a phone with all the newest features for under two to three hundred dollars.
To get the best value for your money, it is essential to do your research and determine your needs. Are you looking for a gaming phone? Do you work long hours and require a long-lasting battery?
Are you passionate about photography and need a camera phone? Or are you looking for something that offers a bit of everything?
All this research can be confusing and time-consuming, but don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Following are the top 10 best phones of 2023.
List Of Top 10 Best Affordable Smartphones
Motorola Moto G Stylus
- Display: 6.8″ 1080p IPS LCD, 90Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G88
- Rear cameras: 50MP Primary, 8MP Wide, 2MP Depth
- Front camera: 16MP
- Storage: 128GB, expandable by microSD
- RAM: 6GB
- Battery: Li-Po 4000 mAh
- Operating System: Android 10
- Charging: 10W wired charging
The Moto G Stylus gets its competitive edge over other budget phones from its built-in stylus. This (almost) complete package phone provides you with a fantastic 90Hz display.
Plausible performance thanks to its MediaTek chipset and long-lasting battery life at only $300 in 2023.
However, it’ll take some time to charge that big of a battery, considering its 10W charging. The Selfie camera is as average as it can get, and the single speaker is also something where the phone loses points for many consumers.
To top it all off, the OnePlus Nord N20 5G provides a cutting-edge display and a fantastic software update commitment (compared to its price).
However, all budget phones compromise on something. In this case, it’s a mediocre camera. So, if you plan on a more camera-oriented phone, this shouldn’t be your pick. It also provides no stereo speakers.
After you’ve bought your phone, it’s important to have it charged with a SIM so you can make calls easily, but finding one can be difficult in KSA. Here’s everything you need to know about SIMs in KSA
Realme C35
- Display: 6.6 inches IPS LCD
- Processor: Unisoc Tiger T616
- Rear cameras: 50MP Primary, 2MP Macro, 0.5MP Depth
- Front camera: 8MP
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB
- RAM: 4/6GB RAM
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Operating System: Android 11, Realme UI 2.0
- Charging: 18W
If the Realme C35 stands out for anything, that’s its eye-catching, striking design in 2023. It’s not just all looks, though; C35’s 6.6-inch IPS LCD provides a vibrant display to pair with its above-average camera.
Before moving on, it’s important to note that the C35 isn’t the best for video capture. Plus, its 60Hz screen makes it a weak option if you plan gaming.
Although the Realme C35 provides consumers with some good features, overall, it performs almost similarly to its predecessor, the C31.
Motorola Moto G Play
- Display: 6.5 inches IPS LCD
- Processor: Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460
- Rear cameras: 16MP Wide, 2MP Depth
- Front camera: 5MP
- Storage: 32GB
- RAM: 3GB
- Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: Android 10
- Charging: 10W Wired
Moto G Play should be the first choice for anyone looking for a big screen with a vibrant resolution under $200. Its 90 Hz display and 6.5-inch screen are particularly attractive for mobile gamers and other heavy users.
However, its LCD display is a downgrade for anyone who has used an OLED display. After all, you can’t get everything under $200. Moreover, its 32GB storage is a downside, although Motorola makes up for it by providing an SD card slot for up to 512GB.
Overall, Moto G Play is a safe and viable option for all casual users.
Google Pixel 7A
- Display: 6.1 inch OLED, HDR, 90Hz
- Processor: Google Tensor G2
- Rear cameras: 64 MP Wide, 13 MP Ultrawide
- Front camera: 13MP
- Storage: 128GB
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: Li-Po 4385 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: Android 13
- Charging: 18W, Wired
The Google Pixel series is an infamous name amongst camera and photography lovers. The Google Pixel 7a is not any different. Pixel 7A is definitely a contender for anyone looking for a mid-range camera phone with a budget of under $500.
Google Pixel 7a has become one of the best phones for outdoor photography because of its wide-angle camera, even better than its parent phone, the Google Pixel 7. Moreover, whatever images you capture are displayed in a vibrant display with a 90Hz refresh rate. However, it does not provide a video portrait mode or telephoto lens.
Besides a bit steep price tag of around $450, the Google Pixel 7A is almost as good as any flagship phone in the market.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
- Display: 6.4 inches Super AMOLED, 120Hz,
- Processor: Exynos 1380
- Rear cameras: 50 MP Wide, 12 MP Ultrawide, 5 MP Macro
- Front camera: 32MP
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB
- RAM: 6GB, 8GB
- Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: Android 13, One UI 5.1
- Charging: 25W, Wired
The Samsung A54 5G is a complete package when it comes to an affordable phone. It has all the qualities that make a phone stand out from its competitors. In A54’s case, its edge over other mid-range phones is its vibrant 6.6-inch AMOLED display, amazing chipset, and great battery life.
However, mobile gamers may not find it the most suitable option, as it might lag while running graphic-intensive games. Moreover, some users may prefer the Google Pixel 7A because the Samsung A54 does not do very well in dim lighting and takes some time to focus.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
- Display: 6.72 inches IPS LCD, 120Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G
- Rear cameras: 108 MP Wide, 2 MP Macro, 2 MP Depth
- Front camera: 16MP
- Storage: 128GB
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: Android 13, OxygenOS 13.1
- Charging: 50W, Wired
OnePlus Nord N30 5G’s plastic body tricks consumers into thinking it will look cheap or shabby. However, even without a metal or glass body, the Nord N30 is just as classy and fashionable as any phone in the market.
The Nord N30 is not for photography enthusiasts as it lacks a telephoto lens, and the digital zoom technology is never a photographer’s preferred tool.
Overall, the OnePlus Nord N30 is, without a doubt, worth its price. Its 6.72-inch display shouts flamboyantly.
iPhone SE
- Display: 4.7 inches Retina IPS LCD
- Processor: Apple A15 Bionic
- Rear cameras: 12 MP Wide
- Front camera: 7 MP
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Battery: Li-Ion 2018 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 17
- Charging: 20W Wired, 7.5W Wireless
Seeing an iPhone on this list takes most people by shock. How can an up-to-date iPhone be affordable? Well, we’re here to tell you that it is! iPhone SE is an amazing phone that promises a surprising longevity of up to 5 years, thanks to Apple for promising updates.
iPhone SE carries the same chipset as the iPhone 13 and 14, providing top-notch performance. As far as the camera is concerned, it provides a better photography experience than the Google Pixel 6a. However, Apple did not include a night mode, so taking a picture in the dark with the iPhone SE is a disadvantage.
The iPhone SE is the size of an average human’s palm. This easy-to-carry design might be a plus for you but a total turn-off for someone wanting a larger display. However, if apps are continuously designed for larger screens, SE users might find themselves in a problem.
Motorola Moto G Power
- Display: 6.5 inches IPS LCD, 90Hz
- Processor: Mediatek MT6765 Helio G37
- Rear cameras: 50 MP Wide, 2 MP Depth, 2 MP Macro
- Front camera: 8MP
- Storage: 64Gb, 128Gb
- RAM: 4GB
- Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: Android 11
- Charging: 10W, Wired
Moto G Power is truly a power to reckon with in this list. Its long-lasting battery life and sharp display make it stand out amongst phones with a price tag of under $300. Moreover, its lightweight and compact design makes it immensely pocket-friendly as well.
However, the Moto G Power lacks efficient secondary cameras and does not provide the best videography experience.
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
- Display: 6.6 inches PLS LCD, 90Hz
- Processor: Exynos 1330
- Rear cameras: 50 MP Wide, 2 MP Macro, 2 MP Depth
- Front camera: 13 MP
- Storage: 64GB, 128GB
- RAM: 4GB, 6GB, 8GB
- Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
- Operating System: Android 13, One UI Core 5
- Charging: 15W, Wired
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G has to be one of the most impressive phones on this list. Its price tag stands shockingly under $200. Its long-lasting battery easily lasts a staggering 2 days. Moreover, Samsung promises to keep up its performance by providing updates twice, to Android 14 and then to Android 15.
However, the phone has no IP protection, so users are advised to be careful around liquids. Moreover, the mono speaker is light to hear and easily gets covered in the landscape.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11
- Display: 6.42in, FHD+, AMOLED, 90Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G
- Rear cameras: 50Mp main, 8Mp ultra-wide, 2Mp Depth
- Front camera: 13Mp
- Storage: 64GB/128GB
- RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR4
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Operating System: Android 11
- Charging: 33W
The Redmi Note 11 is a good deal at a fantastic budget phone of only $180 in 2023. It is among the few phones that provide an outstanding 90Hz AMOLED display.
It doesn’t compromise on its performance either, plus it allows you more extended hours of use thanks to its herculean battery.
Xiaomi provides its users with 33W fast charging when things couldn’t get any better. Lastly, its beautiful design is a cherry on top. If you’re looking to cop this new beauty, head now to Namshi and order it online.
Though it’s reasonable considering this phone’s price, the cameras are possibly something potential buyers would drop Note 11 for.
There are few things to complain about in this phone, but its MIUI is undoubtedly something that feels like a pebble in the shoe.
That wraps up our top 10 best-budget phones of 2023 list. Hopefully, you will find something worth your money to fulfill your requirements. Happy shopping!
